Cubs notebook: Dye headed to the North Side?

Wednesday

Jul 25, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 25, 2007 at 6:59 PM

ST. LOUIS – Cubs notebook from July 24

By Jeff Vorva

Are the Cubs looking for a Dye job?
General manager Jim Hendry said he’d have no problem making a deal with the White Sox before Tuesday’s non-waiver trading deadline if a trade made sense. He and Sox general manager Kenny Williams are on good terms, and they completed a trade in the offseason, the Sox sending Neal Cotts to the Cubs for David Aardsma in a swap of relievers.
Tampering rules prevent Hendry from discussing specific players, but the Daily Herald has speculated the Cubs were looking at Sox right fielder Jermaine Dye.
“Kenny and I have always had good dialogue,” Hendry said, “and I don’t think there would be any way he would shy away from us if he felt he could help his club.”
Hendry said he would like to do some “tinkering” with the roster and that he’s looking for a hitter for the bench.
The Cubs have made three significant deals in the past five weeks, sending catcher Michael Barrett to San Diego on June 20, and acquiring catcher Jason Kendall from Oakland and trading shortstop Cesar Izturis to Pittsburgh last week.
Rumors also say the Cubs are interested in acquiring Zack Greinke or Octavio Dotel -- both pitchers -- from Kansas City. Hendry doesn’t think the team needs pitching help, but that could change in the next few days.
The New Cedeno
Cubs fans who’ve seen shortstop Ronny Cedeno likely remember him as a player with no power who struggled offensively, striking out a lot and rarely walking.
But the new version of Cedeno, promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, might make some wonder whether he’s the same guy.
As a Cub in 2006, Cedeno hit .245 in 151 games. He had six homers, 41 RBI, drew just 17 walks and struck out 109 times. As a backup infielder earlier this year, he hit .097 with two homers in 16 games before being shipped to Iowa on May 5.
But Cedeno, 24, went wild in Des Moines, hitting .360 with 10 homers, 32 RBI and 26 walks to go with 37 strikeouts.
He’d never hit more than nine homers in any of his first seven professional seasons.
“I just see the ball and hit the ball, but 10 homers? That’s a lot for me,” Cedeno said. “I’m not a power hitter. I work out a little before games. But I came in strong. And I’m seeing the ball better.”
Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Cedeno would back up Ryan Theriot at shortstop. Infielder Scott Moore was sent back to Iowa to make room for Cedeno.
Rehab Roulette
Kerry Wood threw a scoreless fifth inning, issuing one walk, in his first rehab appearance for Class A Peoria on Tuesday night. He threw 12 pitches, and his fastball was in the range of 91-94 mph.
Wood, on the disabled list all season with shoulder problems, will try to throw on back-to-back days Thursday and Friday. The Cubs hope he can return in August.
Catcher Henry Blanco (herniated disc in his neck) was 2-for-6 with three RBI in his first three games while on a rehab assignment with Class A Peoria.
Wade Miller (back, shoulder injuries) is to make a rehab start for Double-A Tennessee tonight, five days after pitching three innings for Triple-A Iowa. Miller opened the season in the Cubs rotation but likely would be a long reliever if he returns.
Juan Mateo (shoulder) also is being considered for a role as a long reliever.
Sinatro Cautious
First-base coach Matt Sinatro expressed sadness about the death of Tulsa Drillers first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh, who was killed Sunday when he was struck in the head by a line drive.
Cubs medical personnel informed Piniella and Sinatro they would like to see the coaches have some type of head protection when on the field. Sinatro, who’s been hit twice by balls this season, said he’d consider wearing a cap with a protective liner inside.
“What happened to that poor kid was terrible,” Sinatro said. “When we come back home, we’ll talk about wearing something. (First baseman) John Olerud used to wear a helmet when he was with Seattle. You always have to be alert.”
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